2 Samuel 6:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

NIV: When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.

NASB: But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen nearly overturned it.

CSB: When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled.

NLT: But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.

KJV: And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

NKJV: And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

David has built his house in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–12), and he wants the ark of the covenant nearby. When Samuel was young, Eli's sons took the ark into war, the Philistines stole it, God judged the Philistines, and they sent it back (1 Samuel 4:4, 11; 6:1–18). Since then, it's been in Baale-judah or traveling with Saul (1 Samuel 6:18–21; 14:18).

David consults the military, the people, and God, and they all approve of his plan (1 Chronicles 13:1–4). Unfortunately, he doesn't consult the Mosaic law. God was clear that the ark may only be transported by Levites, carrying it by its poles (Deuteronomy 10:8). Instead, David puts it on an ox-drawn cart. Uzzah walks beside it while his brother leads the cart (2 Samuel 6:3–4). The procession reaches the threshing floor of Nacon (2 Samuel 6:5).

Scholars don't know exactly where Nacon's threshing floor stood, but they believe it and Obed-edom the Gittite's home (2 Samuel 6:10) are close to Jerusalem. As they arrive, the oxen stumble. Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark and keep it from falling. It's the last thing he does.

Since Moses placed the tablets of the covenant inside, no one had permission to touch the ark (Exodus 25:16). Only Levites can carry it by hand (Deuteronomy 10:8). David's men sinned by placing it on a cart, but Uzzah sins most by touching it. God strikes him dead.

David, both angry and distressed, halts the celebration and leaves the ark in Obed-edom's house (2 Samuel 6:7–10).

Nacon is spelled Nakon in the NIV and named Chidon or Kidon in 1 Chronicles 13:9.

In 2 Samuel 6:5–11, God judges and blesses. David has called a procession to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. When the ox cart that carries it wobbles, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and God strikes him dead for profaning the sacred object. Angry and fearful, David leaves the ark at the home of Obed-edom. When David hears God has been blessing Obed-edom, David recalls the procession, the Levites hand-carry the ark as they should, and the religious and political capitals of Israel are closer to aligning (2 Samuel 6:12–15). This information is also found in 1 Chronicles 13:5–14.

In 2 Samuel 6, David decides to bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) to Jerusalem. This includes an enormous crowd and a great procession. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow the Mosaic law, and a man dies for inappropriately touching the ark. David leaves the ark at a house for three months before trying again. Moving the symbol of God's presence into the nation's capital delights everyone except David's first wife, Michal. She is disgusted by David's undignified enthusiasm. The same events are noted in 1 Chronicles 13 and 15.

David has established himself as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5). In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of the covenant reaches Jerusalem. Since its first home in Shiloh, it's been captured by Philistines, sent back home, housed in Kiriath-jearim, carried with the army, and returned to Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4, 6; 7:1–2; 14:18). David first puts the ark on a cart, but the cart wobbles and God strikes dead the man who tries to save it. Eventually, Levites carry the ark to Jerusalem properly. Soon, David decides that God deserves a proper temple and asks if he can build one (2 Samuel 7).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.